Groveland Gets Tough On Water Bill

GROVELAND - Deposits for water and sewer service will double for customers with bad credit histories, the City Council has decided.

``We lost $12,000 due to bad debt or people owing us money last year, and we're trying to keep that from happening this year,'' said City Manager Jason Yarborough.

The council passed a resolution Monday - which immediately went into effect - that allows the city to charge a $150 deposit - double the normal $75 - for water and sewer service when a customer's credit check turns up a history of failure to meet financial obligations.

In addition, customers who owe the city money for a previous utility bill will not be able to get their utilities turned on until the past bill has been paid and a new deposit put down.

Current customers showing a history of two cutoffs within a year will also have to pay the higher deposit, Yarborough said.

When a current customer has service cut off, the bill is paid from the deposit.

When the customer re-establishes service, the deposit will be increased, he said. Deposits are returned to customers when they terminate utility service.

``Those who have not had water cut off will not have a problem,'' Yarborough said.

Vice Mayor Mike Whitaker said, ``Water and sewer is a business, and we cannot afford to take a loss.''

Council member Lewis Hart - who cast the lone vote against the resolution - expressed concern that the increased deposits were too steep and would be a burden on a lot of people.